hodge911 Posted September 25, 2011 Report Share Posted September 25, 2011 right can the infinate wisdom that is P.W clarify . i,m probably wrong but i think i can remember reading many moons ago that your not allowed to shoot hares by lamping them at night. it is something i have never done even though i,ve seen plenty but lately there has been a few posts / write ups from people lamping and shooting them . so am i right or wrong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caeser Posted September 25, 2011 Report Share Posted September 25, 2011 If you go on the BASC website you can find all you need to know on there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted September 26, 2011 Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 And the answer is ???? Please think of us the interested by-standers we dont want to have to go to the BASC website !!! We look ata thread to get the answer to a problem that interests us. I shall return when some knowledgeable chap has set down chapter and verse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hodge911 Posted September 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 so am i correct in thinking i,m right then as this is copied and pasted from the basc website Taking hares at night Under the Hares Act 1848 and Hares (Scotland) Act 1848 it is an offence for 'anyone to use any firearm or gun of any description at night for the purpose of killing game'. This is an additional offence to night poaching where game is being shot during the night, which begins one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise. The Ground Game Act (as amended) and The Agricultural (Scotland) Act 1948 appear to override the prohibition on night shooting of hares by occupiers or persons authorised under the Acts. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 it is now illegal to shoot mountain hares (Lepus timidus) at night with the aid of a lamp or image intensifier, or at any time using any semi-automatic weapon with a magazine capable of holding more than two rounds of ammunition. However, licences can be granted to allow night shooting under certain circumstances. but then again does this bit mean i,m wrong The Ground Game Act (as amended) and The Agricultural (Scotland) Act 1948 appear to override the prohibition on night shooting of hares by occupiers or persons authorised under the Acts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted September 26, 2011 Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 So the answer must be, 'yes' if you own the land and can do the 100 yds in 9.1, or NO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazsl Posted September 26, 2011 Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 it says if you are authorised by the land owner then yes you can ask the land owner to ok it first and get it in writing if you can if its anything like round here light a candle and the law is there in a flash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted September 26, 2011 Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 This is from the BASC website: 'The shooting of game at night (between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise) is not permitted. Ground game (rabbit and hare) may be shot at night by an occupier of land or one other person authorised by the occupier, with the permission of the holder of the shooting rights under Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Schedule 7, unless the occupier has the exclusive rights.' But the game/vermin distinction is a bit hazey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catweazle Posted September 26, 2011 Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 This is from the BASC website: 'The shooting of game at night (between one hour after sunset and one hour before sunrise) is not permitted. Ground game (rabbit and hare) may be shot at night by an occupier of land or one other person authorised by the occupier, with the permission of the holder of the shooting rights under Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Schedule 7, unless the occupier has the exclusive rights.' That's an interesting paragraph. It seems to rather sink the often quoted idea that anyone with permission to shoot on the land can be considered an "occupier". After all, if a person with permission to shoot the land was an "occupier" why would an occupier need to give one person permission to shoot game at night ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted September 26, 2011 Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 That's an interesting paragraph. It seems to rather sink the often quoted idea that anyone with permission to shoot on the land can be considered an "occupier". After all, if a person with permission to shoot the land was an "occupier" why would an occupier need to give one person permission to shoot game at night ? Having permission to shoot is one thing, an occupier is something else entirely. One nominated person is a device to ensure that the occupier, if he doesn't shoot himself, is able to control the vermin whether or not anyone else has the shooting rights if necessary. Obviously, if there was a resident syndicate they could justifiably complain if the occupier let every Tom, **** or Harry loose on the land. It is arguable that this piece of legislation means (it certainly used to before the law was relaxed regarding rabbit) that quite a few people lamping ground game are doing so illegally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted September 26, 2011 Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 (edited) I guess its each to their own but I have to admit I personally find the pictures of loads of rifle shot hares a little distasteful,I know people are saying they are getting to pest levels in some areas ,but I thought they were classed as game ? and to me game means something that offers you sporting shooting and I dont see where rifle shooting them under a lamp fits in that criteria ,to me a good old fashioned hare shoot would be a more respectful way of reducing numbers if required anyone else hold these opinions ? Edited September 26, 2011 by fenboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted September 26, 2011 Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 I guess its each to their own but I have to admit I personally find the pictures of loads of rifle shot hares a little distasteful,I know people are saying they are getting to pest levels in some areas ,but I thought they were classed as game ? and to me game means something that offers you sporting shooting and I dont see where rifle shooting them under a lamp fits in that criteria ,to me a good old fashioned hare shoot would be a more respectful way of reducing numbers if required anyone else hold these opinions ? My priority always has been and always will be taking a humane shot. I'm not big into "sport", although each to their own and if that's how someone wants to do it then fair enough. Your idea of seeing them as sport and my idea of having to get a humane kill both come down to the same thing - respect for the quarry. The reason doesn't matter, as long as that respect is there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 I guess its each to their own but I have to admit I personally find the pictures of loads of rifle shot hares a little distasteful,I know people are saying they are getting to pest levels in some areas ,but I thought they were classed as game ? and to me game means something that offers you sporting shooting and I dont see where rifle shooting them under a lamp fits in that criteria ,to me a good old fashioned hare shoot would be a more respectful way of reducing numbers if required anyone else hold these opinions ? I never see any around here so I wouldn't shoot one if I did. As for being classed as game, well, so are rabbits - according to the BASC website, anyway. And sport or sporting can mean many things to many people; it can mean fairness and respect for your quarry, challenging shots, or just a fun day out for the shooter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 Yes I can see the point in the last couple of posts ,thats why I said each to there own just becuase its something I myself find distasteful does not make it wrong I have lots of hares around me infact if I looked out of my back window the chances are I would see one or two I do shoot one occasionally with the shot gun if someone asks for one for the table ,but i must admit I have a bit of a soft spot for them and would rather just watch them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fendrover90 Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 Yes I can see the point in the last couple of posts ,thats why I said each to there own just becuase its something I myself find distasteful does not make it wrong I have lots of hares around me infact if I looked out of my back window the chances are I would see one or two I do shoot one occasionally with the shot gun if someone asks for one for the table ,but i must admit I have a bit of a soft spot for them and would rather just watch them just to add my two penneth's worth . i shoot hares at night with rifle and lamp in fact i shoot a lot of hares at night the fact of the matter is that hares in my area since the banning of legal coursing have grown to pest proportions and whilst lovely to see on a crisp spring morning most people/shooters dont realise the damage these creatures can do to farmers livelyhoods not always eating whole plants but usually nipping the hearts out of young plants brassicas being a firm favorite of the hare this creating a staggered ripening of the crop which means wasted labour/diesel/crop and whilst i for one thoroughly enjoy watching hares and general wildlife three farms which i am charged with controlling pests on it was estimated that between rabbits pigeons and hares across roughly 2800 acres they cost the farmers upwards of £150000 a year in lost yeilds i average between 150 to 200 hares a year and i havent dented the population yet much like pigeons they just move in from other areas so i will keep on shooting them until i am told otherwise. happy shooting.chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 so am i correct in thinking i,m right then as this is copied and pasted from the basc website Taking hares at night Under the Hares Act 1848 and Hares (Scotland) Act 1848 it is an offence for 'anyone to use any firearm or gun of any description at night for the purpose of killing game'. This is an additional offence to night poaching where game is being shot during the night, which begins one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise. The Ground Game Act (as amended) and The Agricultural (Scotland) Act 1948 appear to override the prohibition on night shooting of hares by occupiers or persons authorised under the Acts. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 it is now illegal to shoot mountain hares (Lepus timidus) at night with the aid of a lamp or image intensifier, or at any time using any semi-automatic weapon with a magazine capable of holding more than two rounds of ammunition. However, licences can be granted to allow night shooting under certain circumstances. but then again does this bit mean i,m wrong The Ground Game Act (as amended) and The Agricultural (Scotland) Act 1948 appear to override the prohibition on night shooting of hares by occupiers or persons authorised under the Acts. There is without doubt confusion/contradition/debate between various Acts of Parliament, but the Ground Game Act goes back to 1880 and my understanding is it has been superseded by other Acts in virtually all respects! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted October 1, 2011 Report Share Posted October 1, 2011 I had a mate who was actually convicted for such and having no Game licence, though i feel with a proper brief he would have been found not guilty of both offences. He had permission but was reported by a gamekeeper on the adjoining ground. Hares are unusual in the fact they can be both Vermin and Game depending on both were they are shot and why. Culling Older hares and limiting the number of yearlings realy helps the population in terms of health and vitality IMO. They totally wreck new trees but graze very selectively, i have watched them singling out dandilions one day then thistle heads or similar the next, while rabbits around them just munch whats nearest. At night they offer no sport in the lamp being frankly stupid when the beam is on them, but you get plenty opertunity to select the best ones. Anyone who shoots rabbits at night and has never bagged a few half grown levererets by mistake in hare country frankly cant tell the difference in the larder they look very similar when squatting ears down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted October 1, 2011 Report Share Posted October 1, 2011 I had a mate who was actually convicted for such and having no Game licence, though i feel with a proper brief he would have been found not guilty of both offences. He had permission but was reported by a gamekeeper on the adjoining ground. Hares are unusual in the fact they can be both Vermin and Game depending on both were they are shot and why. Culling Older hares and limiting the number of yearlings realy helps the population in terms of health and vitality IMO. They totally wreck new trees but graze very selectively, i have watched them singling out dandilions one day then thistle heads or similar the next, while rabbits around them just munch whats nearest. At night they offer no sport in the lamp being frankly stupid when the beam is on them, but you get plenty opertunity to select the best ones. Anyone who shoots rabbits at night and has never bagged a few half grown levererets by mistake in hare country frankly cant tell the difference in the larder they look very similar when squatting ears down A while ago then, the Game Licence (to take and sell) went out the window in 2007! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted October 1, 2011 Report Share Posted October 1, 2011 A while ago then, the Game Licence (to take and sell) went out the window in 2007! yes over ten years at least, but its only just gone in scotland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted October 1, 2011 Report Share Posted October 1, 2011 yes over ten years at least, but its only just gone in scotland Good shout, and to be honest I hadn't even noticed the Scots had given it up at last! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.